Book Review – Dhandha – Shobha Bondre – Translated by Shalaka Walimbe

I like reading about entrepreneurs. There is so much to learn from their experiences. I have read all the books by Rashmi Bansal because they were about entrepreneurs and their first hand experience about setting up their businesses and I think I will end up reading all the books by Shobha Bondre because of the same reason. Dhandha was my second book by Shobha Bondre that I was reading. The first book that I read by her was Mumbai’s Dabbawallahs and I finished it one go. That was also translated by Shalaka Walimbe who does a swell job in translating books from Mararthi to English.

With a forward by chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi and an introduction by the brand ambassador of Gujarat, Amitabh Bacchan, the book begins on a promising note. Dhandha is about Gujarati business tycoons and their experiences with life and their respective businesses. The book features five successful entrepreneurs Bhimjibhai Patel ( Diamonds are forever), Mohanbhai Patel (The Circle Of Life), Dalpatbhai Patel (Motelier becomes Mayor), Life Of A Salesman (Jaydev Patel) and Hasu & Hersha Shah (Not Only Potels).

One thing that I found common in all their stories is that each of these people believe in a single funda of business and that is “A businessman should always think about growing bigger and better, once you stop, that’s the end of you” and which holds completely true. In each of the chapters of Dhandha you will gain many things about how hardwork and perseverance always pay off. None of your genuine efforts will go waste if you have put in your heart and your soul in trying to achieve what you really wanted.

Gujaratis are known as “entrepreneurs by birth” and there are no doubts about that. Being a half gujju, there are some traits in me as well but I have never let them grow on me, may be someday I will and that is where the experiences of all these people will come in handy. Dhandha by Shobha Bondra is a book that each and every entrepreneur should read who are running startups because it will teach you a lot and in the simplest possible way.